Offset Paperback Manufacturers Adding Kodak Prosper Press

ROCHESTER, NY—Feb. 8, 2010—Recognizing the value of Kodak Stream inkjet technology in maximizing productivity and efficiency in book production, Offset Paperback Manufacturers (OPM), a Bertelsmann company, chose the Kodak Prosper Press Platform with an integrated Muller Martini Sigmaline in-line finishing system for its book printing operation in Laflin, PA. A Prosper Press market pioneer, Offset Paperback Manufacturers is one of the earliest users of Kodak’s revolutionary continuous inkjet technology.

OPM is one of the largest manufacturers of mass-market paperback books in the world. Its clients include many of the most recognized brands in publishing, such as Random House, Pearson Education, Penguin and McGraw-Hill.

“We are always looking for ways to improve production and enhance the bottom line of our operation,” noted Mitch Weiss, Vice President of Sales, Offset Paperback Manufacturers. “We investigated a lot of options, and feel confident that the Prosper 1000 Press will give us the advantage we need to add value to our clients and position our business to capture more revenue in the changing book publishing environment. In addition, we look forward to upgrading to the color capabilities of the Kodak Prosper 5000XL Press in the near future.”

Book printers and publishers constantly seek more efficient and economical ways to produce short-run book titles and streamline the supply chain. By printing digitally with the Kodak PROSPER Press Platform, the need for inventory is reduced, waste can be eliminated, and the number of available titles increases. Furthermore, the Muller Martini Sigmaline system interconnects prepress with digital printing and finishing in a unique total system. This fully automated production line will provide OPM with a complete solution—from PDF to finished book in a single operation, managed by the end-to-end workflow system CONNEX.

“The Prosper Press Platform is revolutionary for book production. It significantly increases the quantity of books that can be produced digitally at a lower cost than offset,” said Kevin Joyce, Worldwide Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak. “What’s more, the Prosper Press helps to maximize supply chain efficiency and delivers offset class quality and speed.”